Tension in Lesvos hotspot
- Written by E.Tsiliopoulos
The total number of refugees and migrants in Greece reaches 53 thousand 855. Tension was recorded at Moria hotspot, on the island of Lesvos. Minors attacked Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas both verbally and by throwing bottles of water at him.
Mouzalas was at the camp with Dutch Junior Justice Minister Klaas Dijkhoff when migrants began shouting “freedom” and “open the borders,” and banging metal objects.
The ministers left the camp and protesters, mainly unaccompanied teenagers, started fires by setting rubbish ablaze. A riot police contingent was sent to Moria but was waiting outside and had not intervened, police said, adding that staff had left the camp and were waiting outside.
The Moria camp was converted into a closed detention center after a European Union-Turkey deal aiming to stem the flow of refugees and migrants into Europe. Under the agreement, those arriving on Greek islands from March 20 onwards are detained and face deportation unless they successfully apply for asylum in Greece.
